ACEJMC Accreditation

The Department of Communication at the University of North Alabama offers undergraduate degrees in two majors: the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts. 

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. ACEJMC is the agency responsible for the evaluation of professional journalism and mass communication programs in colleges and universities. UNA's Mass Communication major is one of 118 programs approved by ACEJMC, only four of which are in Alabama.

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts does not fall under the accreditation guidelines of ACEJMC, but the programs follow Department of Communication curriculum requirements and benefit from resources provided in support of the accredited program.

Enrollment

The numbers below indicate registered Mass Communication majors for each academic year (summer, fall, spring).

ACADEMIC TERM NUMBER OF STUDENTS
2012-2013 147
2013-2014 129
2014-2015 128
2015-2016 183
2016-2017 206
2017-2018 161
2018-2019 157
2019-2020 145
2020-2021 180
2021-2022 151
2022-2023 167

Retention Rates

The percentages below indicate the first-year retention rates of students who declare Mass Communication as their major as incoming freshmen.

Retention Rates for Incoming Freshmen Mass Communication Majors

ACADEMIC TERM FRESHMEN MAJORS % RETURNED 2ND YEAR
2011-2012 16 73.2%
2012-2013 14 70.1%
2013-2014 16 70.6%
2014-2015 7 66.67%
2015-2016 21 71.4%
2016-2017 28 82.1%
2017-2018 20 85%
2018-2019 20 95%
2019-2020 19 84%
2020-2021 15 86.7%
2021-2022 14 85.7%
2022-2023 15 TBA

 Graduation Rates

The information below indicates the percentage of students who declared Mass Communication as their major as incoming freshmen and who graduated from that program in four, five, and six years.

ACADEMIC TERM NUMBER OF STUDENTS 4 YEARS GRADUATION RATE 5 YEARS GRADUATION RATE 6 YEARS GRADUATION RATE
2011-2012 16 25% 44% 50%
2012-2013 14 29% 43% 50%
2013-2014 16 25% 44% 50%
2014-2015 7 29% 43% 57%
2015-2016 21 38% 48% 47.6%
2016-2017 28 46.4% 60.7% 64.3%
2017-2018 20 50% 70% TBA
2018-2019 20 40% TBA TBA
2019-2020 19 TBA TBA TBA
2020-2021 15 TBA TBA TBA
2021-2022 13 TBA TBA TBA
2022-2023 TBA TBA TBA TBA